Safety slips for holding pipe in wells



June 30, 1925 v A. J. CARR SAFETY SLIP FOR HOLDING PIPE IN WELLS V Lled Oco. 22, 192 3 s Shets-Sheec 1 I If". IL.

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June 30, 1925. 4 1,543,904

A. J. CARR SAFE LY SLIP FOR HOLDING PIPE IN WELLS F led O t. 22, 1923 3 s Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1925. 1,5439% A. J. CARR SAFETY SLIP FOR HOLDING PIPE IN WELLS Filed Oct. 22, 192-3 '5- Sheets-Sheet 5 C gmmm Patented June 30, 1925.

NITED STAT ARTHUR J. CARR, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SAFETY SIP-I1 5 FOR HOLDING PIPE IN WELLS.

Application filed October 22, 1923. Serial No. 669,949.

To all whom it may concern: p I

Be it known that I, ARTHURJ; CARR, a

V citizen ofxthe United States, residing at Houston, Harris County, Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety Slipsfor Holding Pipe in Wells, of .which the-following is a speci- 'fication.

My invention relates to slips for use in holding pipe in well drilling and pumping operations. Said slips are adapted to operate in connection with a tapered seat, adapted to fit the opening in a rotary table, casing head, or the like, to hold the pipe while joints in said pipe are being unscrewed or screwed up;

An object is to provide slips which may be thrown into or out of pipe-engaging position by means of a foot lever.

Another object is to provide an effective Another object is to provide means to throw the slips from inoperative position to operative position quickly when desired to grip the pipe.

Various other objects and advantages will beobvious from the description which follows. Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of the slips, the seat, and operating means; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is aside view showing the slips and operating arms in'elevated position and the bowl or seat in approximately central vertical section; Fig. 4 is a side elevation taken 'at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 2. Figure 5 is a side eleva-,

tionof the device, with the gate open. Like numerals of reference are applied to like parts in all the views.

' My invention includes a tapered'bushing 1, adapted to fit within the openingin a casinghead for pumping operations, or in a rotary table in drilling operations. This bowl comprises a downwardly tapered sleeve, the lower end 2 of which is preferably cylindrical. Above the cylindrical ortion is a radial flange 3 chamfered or eveled at 4 on its upper face to providean attaching means to hold the bushing or 17 and 18. These brackets have on one bowl within theopening in which it is placed. The upper end of the bushing has a radial flange or table 5 thereon to rest upon the upper face of the supporting mem $0 her, i. e. the rotary table or the casing head. The lower end ofthe tapered bushing is constricted at 6 so as to just .allow the passage therethrough ofthe pipe joints. This will serve to center the pipe in the bushing so that the slips will seize the same accurately on opposite sides, thus preventingthe mutilation offthe pipe and "preventing slipping.

The lower end of the opening through the bushing is beveled outwardly at 6' to guide the pipe into the bowl in an obvious manner.

f In order that this bushing maybe placed about a ,pipe while the pipe is extending upwardly from the well, one sector of the bushingis divided from the rest of the said bushing to form a gate 8,- 'pivoted at one end upon the pin 9, and having a laterally, extending lug 10. on the opposite end, said" lug being provided with an opening to receive a pivot pin 11, by means of which it is connected to a latch member 12. The said latch is best shown in Fig. 1. It com-.

prises a pin 13, threaded to receive a sleeve 14 thereon, by means of which the length of the latch member may be adjusted. The

said latch has 5 radial flange-15 which may be engaged between two lateral lugsor bosses 16 on the wall of the bowl or bushing, whereby it is held in position when said latch is tightened in place by means of the threaded connection between the two parts I of the latch.-

On each side of the bowl and diametrically .opposite each other are two brackets,

side thereof a support for a foot lever 19. This support at each side comprises a pair of parallel arms 20, having an opening therethroiigh to receive a pin 21.

The lever 19 is generally in general form of an inverted U. The two forwardly extending arms 22 are perforated intermediate the ends thereof to receive the pivot pin 21, the forward ends of the armsextending beyond 1 the fulcrum to engage beneath links 24 which support the slips. The lever 19 has a central arm 25 thereon, furnishing a pedal 4 which .may be operated by means of the foot of the operator.

The slipsshown in the drawing are two in number. These slips are secured to two operating links 24, previously mentioned,

the link extends over jaws of the slip.

l3 face 31, which,

two jaws 26 being securedto each of the arms 24 to make up the slips. The outer end'of the arm is pivoted to the bracket 17 by means of a pin 27. The forward end of the side of the bowl 1, and is attached to upstanding lugs 29 on each of the two adjacent jaws." This furnishes a pivotal connection between the inner end of thelink The general form of the links or arms 2a is shown best in Fig. 3. Each link is pivoted upon the pin 27 on its lower'side, on a downwardly extending'ear 3O thereon, said ear having a forward lower when the link is thrown upwardly in the position shown in Fig. 3, will engage with the lateral flange upon the bushing and prevent the arm from swinging beyond a certain point. There is a central ear i9 32 on the link, the outer side of which is thrown out of its seat in the bowl.

35 its seat automatically.

curvey to form a cam surface, as shown at 33, to receive the end of the foot'lever arm 22, thus allowing the link to be thrown upwardly as the foot lever is depressed. The

4 forward side of the ear 82 is positioned so as to limit thebackward swing of the jaw 26 of the slip. On the forward end of the link 24 is a shoulder 34., which will limit the upward swing of the jaws 26 as the slip is jaws are thrown abruptly, it will tend to swing around the pivot pin 35 at the end of the link, and extend over above the link in such manner-that it will not drop back into The shoulder 34; will prevent this movement beyond a certain point, assuring the operator that the jaws will always be in position to drop back into the tapered seat within the bowl; I 'When the pipe is being lowered or withdrawn from the well through the central opening in the bowl the jaws of'the slip must be elevated into the position shown in Fig. 3 and held in that position until it is again desired to grip the pipe and hold it in position. To'hold these slips in this elevated position there is provided a. latch member 36. As shownin Fig. 4: this latch is pivoted at 37 intermediate its ends. and has a notch 38 out therein to fit below the shoulder 39 formed on the side of the bracket 18. Theupper end of the latch projects above the foot lever, so that it may be moved into or kicked from its latched position by the foot of the operator. As it is sometimes desirable to unlatch the foot lever and allow the slips to drop when the operator is at some distance from the device, an opening 49 is formed in the lower end of the latch to receive a wire or cable 40, extending to the operators position beside the engine or the draw-works. V

In the operation of this device, the bowl is seated within an opening in the rotary table when it is used in drilling operations,

as to engage and the two adjacent If the casinghead or and a set screw in the spider usually engaging within the table is screwed inwardly so thechamfered surface 4: of the flan e' 3, t us tending to clamp the device firm y into the rotary seat. The device will fit therein in such manner that it will make a firm support for the slips and the pipe which is engagedthereby.

The bowl will be adapted to fit around the pipe while'it is being adjusted in positionby opening the gate 8 in an obvious manner,

' and latching it again in POSltlOItbBfOIG it is firmly seated. The slips will be in elevated position, as shown in Fig. 3 whilethe-pipe is being raised or lowered, but when it is desired to hold the pipe in position so that that V the jointsmaybe screwed up or unscrewed, the foot lever will be kicked loose from its latched position,.and the slips will automatically drop into their seats so as to seize and support the pipe. slips will drop simultaneously, soas to seize the pipe at directly opposite points, due to the fact that they are supported and dropped in exactly the same manner, and due to the centering of the pipe, as. previously described.

When it is desired to release the pipe, the

i e is raised slightly so as to release the ho d of the slips thereon, and the may be depressed to raise the links 21 with the slips thereon and allow the pipe to be raised or lowered as desired. The slips may be latched in thatposition in the manner described until it is again desired to hold the pipe in stationary position; The device will-act as a tubing or p pe catcher by allowing the slips to drop into the bowl, leaving the foot lever unlatched while the pipe is being elevated, it being obvious that the slips will not interfer with the raising of the pipe, but will immediately drop into their seats and grip the pipe if the pipe tends to drop or fall while being raised from the hole. Even when the slips are in latched position, they may be quickly dropped into the seat to grip the pipe byreleasing the latch 36, either by the foot of the operator or by pulling the cable 40.

The advantages of this device are that it is a self-contained assembly, adapted to be fitted to any common construction ot rotary table. It may be quickly adjusted upon the pipe by opening the gate 8 and fitting it about the pipe, and lowering it into the spider of the supporting member. The gate being of short construction and supported upon its hinges, will leave the larger part of the bowl free to support the slips, without strain on the hinges of the gate. The taper of the bowl at the upper and lower. ends is an important feature in that it assures that the pipe will be drawn into or lowered without the joints of the pipe catching on the sides of tool lever The two opposite the construction centering. The method of drop uniformly into the seats, so as to grip the pipe and prevent slipping. The connection between the slips and the links is such that the slips can not be thrown out of position ready to be dropped automatically back in their seat when released by the foot lever. This is a safety provision whereby the slips, may act as a pipe catcher in case of accident. The' further objects and advantages. of my device will be apparent to one skilled in the' art, without further description.

What I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a bushing having a downwardly tapered seat therein, a short sector of said bushing being hinged to form a gate to allow said bushing to be fitted around a pipe,

a latch on said gate opposite lateral supports on said bushing, pipe engaging slips hingedly connected to links pivoted on said supports, and means to throw said slips upwardly away from said seat a, limited distance.

2. In a device of the character described a bushing adapted to support pipe engaging slips, one short section of which is cut longitudinally and hinged to the body of the bushing, slips in said bushing and a lever opposite said hinged section connected with said slips to raise and lower said slips simultaneously.

3. In a device of the character described, a downwardly tapered bushing shaped to fit within a supporting member, opposite lateral brackets on the upper end of said bushing, linksv pivoted at their outer ends on said brackets, slips having-a hinged conbushing and having arms contacting with nection with the inner ends of said links, a curved cam surface on the lower sides of said links and a foot lever pivoted on said said cam surfaces to throwsaid links and slips upwardly when said foot lever is operated.

4:. Ina device of the character described, a downwardly tapered bushing shaped to fit within a supporting member, opposite lateral brackets on the upper end of said bushing, links pivoted attheirouter ends on said brackets, slips having a hinged connection with the inner ends of said links, a curved cam surface on the lower sides of said links, a foot lever pivoted on said bushing'and having arms contacting with said cam surfaces to throw said links and slips upwardly when said foot lever is 0perated, and means to limit the upward swing of said links.

5. In a device of the character described,

a downwardly tapered bushing, means whereby said bushing may be clamped to a support, links hinged on the upper end of said bushing, pipe engaging slips pivoted to the inner ends of said links, a lever fulcrumed on said bushing, arms on said lever engaging beneath said links to force said links and slips upwardly, and shoulders on said links to limit the upward swing of said slips.

, 6. In a device of the character described, a bushing having a tapered seat therein,

upward swing of said links and of the slips on said links.

7. A bushing having a tapered seat thereopposite laterally extending brackets, a gate v in, links fulcrumed at one end on said buslil ing, a shoulder at one end of each of said links, a cam surface on the lower side of said link, a lever having anarm engaging said surface to throw said links upwardly, a slip pivoted to the inner end ofeach of said links, said shoulders on said links adapted to limit the upward swing of said links and slips.

8. A bushing having. a tapered seat therein, lateral brackets on said bushing, a gate formed of a short sector at one side of said bushing between said brackets, pipe engaging slips shaped to fit said seat, links on said brackets pivotally connected to said slips, and means .to elevate said links and slips.

9. A bushing having a tapered seat therein, lateral brackets on said bushing, a gate formed of a short sector at one side of said bushing between said brackets, pipe engaging slips shaped to fit said seat, links on said brackets pivotally connected to said slips, and means to elevate said slips, and to hold them releasable in elevated position.

10. A bushing having a tapered seat therein, opposite links pivoted to said b ush-- ing, pipe engaging slips on the inner ends of said links, a foot lever engaging beneath said links to elevate said links and slips, a catch on said lever to hold the slips in elevated position and means to release said catch from a distance.

11. A bushing adapted for fltllllCllll'lGllt within a rotary table, a sector-shaped gate at one side of said bushin a downwardly 1 I n u tapered seat 111 said bushmgyshps in said seat, means connecting said slips with said.

Hill

' of said seat, opposite ing slips therein,

v 12. A bushing having a tapered seat therein. a gate on one side of said bushing forming less than 180? slips in said seat, and a lever opposite said gate, and "separate from said slips to elevate or lower said'slips simultaneously, as desired.

13. A tubular bushing having a downwardly-tapered seat, a pair of pipe engaglinks securing said slips to said bushing at opposite points, a gate on one side of said'bushing between said links, and a lever unconnected with said slips angl links to elevate said slips as desired.

of the circumference.

site slips in said 'form a gate adapted to swing outward '14. In a device of the character described, a tubular bushing adapted to surround a pipe, a tapered seat in said bushing, opposeat, a sector of the wall of said bushing being cut longitudinally to l and receive a pipe, the body of the bushing remaining stationary, and means on the stationary portion to raise and lower said slips. i

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 17th day of October, A. l"). 1923.

ARTHUR J. am. 

